Glasgow City Council

Glasgow City Council
Comhairle Baile Ghlaschu

Logo
Admin HQ Glasgow
Government
  Body Glasgow City Council
  Control Labour
Area
  Total 68 sq mi (175 km2)
Area rank Ranked 27th
Population (2010 est.)
  Total 593,000
  Rank Ranked 1st
  Density 8,800/sq mi (3,396/km2)
ONS code 00QS
ISO 3166 code GB-GLG
Website http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/

Glasgow City Council, the local government body of the city of Glasgow in Scotland, became one of the newly created single tier local authorities in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994,[1] with boundaries somewhat different from those of the City of Glasgow district of the Strathclyde region: parts of the Cambuslang and Halfway and Rutherglen and Fernhill areas were transferred from the city area to the new South Lanarkshire council area.

The district had been created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to include: the former county of the city of Glasgow and a number of areas previously within the county of Lanark: Cambuslang (Central and North, and South lying outwith East Kilbride), Rutherglen (including the burgh of Rutherglen), part of a Carmunnock area (that lying outwith East Kilbride) and Baillieston, Carmyle, Garrowhill, Mount Vernon and Springboig.

History

The early city was run by the old "Glasgow Town Council". In 1895, the Town Council became "The Corporation of the City of Glasgow" ("Glasgow Corporation" or "City Corporation"). It retained this title until local government re-organisation in 1975, when it became "City of Glasgow District Council". In 1996, following the dissolution of Strathclyde Regional Council and the transfer of its responsibilities to Glasgow District Council, the authority was renamed "Glasgow City Council".

The title Lord Provost of Glasgow, used now for the civic leader of the city council, has history dating from the 15th century.

During World War I, the council was unique in the United Kingdom in appointing an official war artist, Frederick Farrell.[2]

Glasgow Corporation Transport was under the control of the Glasgow Corporation, and ran the local buses and Glasgow Trams, until it was superseded by the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive on 1 June 1973.

During the period of two tier local government (Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973), 1975 to 1996, Glasgow District Council was responsible for refuse collection, museums, libraries and housing, while Strathclyde Regional Council had responsibilities for policing, fire service, water, education, social work and transport.

The city council established in 1996 (Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994), took on the powers and responsibilities previously divided between councils of the Glasgow City district and the Strathclyde region.

The council area borders onto East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Council control

Current political composition

[3]

Party Councillors
Labour 44
Scottish National Party 28
Scottish Green 4
Conservative 1
Liberal Democrat 1
Independent 1

(Glasgow Corporation/District Council/City Council)

Controlling party Years Leader
No overall control 1934–1945 1933 – 1934: George Smith (Labour)
1934 – 1938: Patrick Dollan (Labour)
1938 – 1941: Hector McNeil (Labour)
1941 – 1945: George Smith (Labour)
Labour 1945–1949 1945 – 1948: George Smith (Labour)
1948 – 1949: Andrew Hood (Labour)
No overall control 1949–1950 1949 – 1950: John Donald Kelly (Progressive)
Progressives 1950–1952 1950 – 1952: John Donald Kelly (Progressive)
Labour 1952–1968 1952 – 1955: Andrew Hood
1955 – 1957: Jean Roberts
1957 – 1958: Myer Galpern
1958 – 1963: Peter Meldrum
1963 – 1968: William Taylor
No overall control 1968–1969 1968 – 1969: John Douglas Glen (Progressive)
Progressives 1969–1970 1969 – 1970: Peter Gemmill (Progressive)
No overall control 1970–1971 1970 – 1971: Peter Gemmill (Progressive)
Labour 1971–1977 1971 – 1972: John Mains
1972 – 1973: Richard Dynes
1973 – 1974: Geoff Shaw
1974 – 1977: Richard Dynes
No overall control 1977–1980 1977 – 1979: John Young (Conservative)
1979 – 1980: Jean McFadden (Labour)
Labour 1980 – present 1980 – 1986: Jean McFadden
1986 – 1992: Pat Lally
1992 – 1994: Jean McFadden
1994 – 1996: Pat Lally
1996 – 1997: Bob Gould
1997 – 1999: Frank McAveety
1999 – 2005: Charlie Gordon
2005 – 2010: Steven Purcell
2010 – 2015: Gordon Matheson
2015 – present: Frank McAveety

Council structure

The council is ceremonially headed by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, who is elected to convene the council and perform associated tasks as a general civil leader. The current incumbent is Sadie Docherty.

The council's executive branch is headed by a Leader of the Council, who is the leader of the largest political grouping, currently the Labour Party.

Elections

The council consists of 79 councillors elected for a four-year term from 21 wards. These wards were introduced for the 2007 election and each returns three or four members by the single transferable vote system of election. This system was introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004,[4] as a means of ensuring a reasonably proportionately representative outcome.

The most recent full council election took place on Thursday 3 May 2012. Labour retained overall majority control (45), with increased numbers for the Scottish National Party (27) and the Greens (5), while the Conservatives, Glasgow First and the Liberal Democrats each returned one councillor. No Scottish Socialist Party, Solidarity or independent councillors were returned.

Current multi-member ward system

A multi-member ward system was introduced for the 2007 council election:

Ward Representation Map
1. Linn (4 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Lib Dem
2. Newlands/Auldburn (3 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP
3. Greater Pollok (4 members) 3 Lab; 1 SNP
4. Craigton (4 members) 2 Lab; 2 SNP
5. Govan (4 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Glasgow First
6. Pollokshields (3 members) 1 Lab; 1 Con; 1 SNP
7. Langside (3 members) 1 Lab; 2 SNP;
8. Southside Central (4 members) 2 Lab; 2 SNP;
9. Calton (3 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP
10. Anderston/City (4 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Green
11. Hillhead (4 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Green
12. Partick West (4 members) 2 SNP; 1 LAB; 1 Green
13. Garscadden/Scotstounhill (4 members) 3 Lab; 1 SNP
14. Drumchapel/Anniesland (4 members) 3 Lab; 1 SNP
15. Maryhill/Kelvin (4 members) 2 Lab; 2 SNP
16. Canal (4 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP; 1 Green
17. Springburn (3 members) 2 Lab; 1 SNP
18. East Centre (4 members) 3 Lab; 1 SNP
19. Shettleston (4 members) 3 Lab; 1 SNP
20. Baillieston (4 members) 2 Lab; 2 SNP
21. North East (4 members) 3 Lab; 1 SNP

Previous single-member ward system

Prior to the 2007 election, there were 79 councillors elected from 79 single-member wards by the plurality (first past the post) system of election. The result from this system was 69 of the 79 councillors representing the Labour Party, although that party gained only around half the votes cast in the previous election to the council, and the Scottish National Party was represented by just four councillors, despite gaining some 20% of the votes. There were also three Liberal Democrat councillors, one Conservative councillor, one Scottish Socialist Party councillor, and one independent councillor.

WardWardWard
  1. Drumry
  2. Summerhill
  3. Blairdardie
  4. Knightswood Park
  5. Knightswood South
  6. Yoker
  7. Anniesland
  8. Jordanhill
  9. Kelvindale
  10. Scotstoun
  1. Victoria Park
  2. Hayburn
  3. Hyndland
  4. Hillhead
  5. Partick
  6. Kelvingrove
  7. Anderston
  8. Woodlands
  9. North Kelvin
  10. Wyndford
  1. Maryhill
  2. Summerston
  3. Milton
  4. Ashfield
  5. Firhill
  6. Keppochhill
  7. Merchant City
  8. Royston
  9. Cowlairs
  10. Springburn
  1. Wallacewell
  2. Milnbank
  3. Dennistoun
  4. Calton
  5. Bridgeton/ Dalmarnock
  6. Parkhead
  7. Carntyne
  8. Robroyston
  9. Gartcraig
  10. Queenslie
  11. Greenfield
  12. Barlanark
  13. Shettleston
  14. Tollcross Park
  15. Braidfauld
  16. Mount Vernon
  17. Baillieston
  18. Garrowhill
  1. Garthamlock
  2. Easterhouse
  3. Drumoyne
  4. Govan
  5. Ibrox
  6. Kingston
  7. Mosspark
  8. North Cardonald
  9. Penilee
  10. Cardonald
  1. Pollok
  2. Crookston
  3. Nitshill
  4. Darnley
  5. Carnwadric
  6. Maxwell Park
  7. Pollokshields East
  8. Hutchesontown
  9. Govanhill
  10. Strathbungo
  1. Battlefield
  2. Langside
  3. Pollokshaws
  4. Newlands
  5. Cathcart
  6. Mount Florida
  7. Toryglen
  8. Kings Park
  9. Castlemilk
  10. Carmunnock
  11. Glenwood

Footnotes

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Durham
LBC Council of the Year
2015
Incumbent
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